The legal advisory committee inaugurated by Lagos State Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo has presented the report of it’s review on police prosecution of criminal matters in Magistrate Courts.

The advisory committee was inaugurated in January, following calls by some non-governmental organisations on the state government to challenge the right of the police in prosecuting criminal cases at Magistrate Courts.

Onigbanjo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria while recieving the report, said the committee was given a one month ultimatum to review the Police Prosecution power and provide recommendations accordingly.

He commended the committee’s timely intervention and selfless service to actualise the set goals of the review, said the recommendations presented by the committee would aid government plan to bring substantial change to the administration of justice.

While presenting the report, the advisory committee chairman, Fola Arthur-Worrey said it reviewed the competence of the non-lawyers in the prosecution of criminal cases in Magistrate courts, noting that over fifteen thousand cases were pending due to unprofessional practices of some prosecutors.

Arthur-Worrey said stakeholders involved in prosecution matters were also engaged in the review to achieve a balance and accurate report.

He commended the Attorney-General’s support through the course of the review and selection of the committee members who aided the successful review.

The committee as part of its engagement with all spectrum of society in the State, had about three weeks ago held a Public Stakeholders Meeting at Ikeja, where senior members of the Nigerian Bar Association, which included Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Muiz Banire, and others, who made important contributions and recommendations to the committee.

Other stakeholders at the meeting included representatives of the State Judiciary, Police, Legal Aid Association and local government branches of the Nigerian Bar Association.

The seven-member Advisory Committee included: Fola Arthur-Worrey-Chairman, Norrison Quakers, SAN – Member, Titilayo Shitta-Bey-Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice-Member, Yhaqub Oshoala-Director, Public Prosecutions–Member DSP-Yetunde Cardoso, Officer in Charge Legal Department, Criminal Investigation, Yaba, Lagos–Member, Bayo Akinlade, NBA Ikorodu Chairman-Member, Rukayat Owolabi-Member, Arinola Momoh-Ayokanmbi-Secretary.